The Golden Rule References Monthly Theme Matthew 7:1–12; Jesus Calls Us to Serve Others
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LESSON ONE The Golden Rule References Monthly Theme Matthew 7:1– 12; Jesus calls us to serve others. The Desire of Ages, pp. 298–314, 640; Thoughts The Bible Lesson at a Glance From the Mount of Jesus is preaching the Sermon on the Mount, full of important Blessing, pp. 123–137 lessons for people then as well as us today. Finding fault with others is condemned by Jesus. He talks about trying to remove a speck in another’s eye when there is a plank in your own. He speaks of God’s generous love and the rule of His kingdom: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” Memory Verse “ ‘So in everything, This is a lesson about service. do to others what God’s generous love inspires us to treat others as we would you would have them want to be treated. This usually involves an act of kindness. do to you’ ” (Matthew 7:12, NIV). Teacher Enrichment “The Sermon on the Mount, though given especially to the disciples, was spoken in the hearing of the multitude. The disciples’ place was always next to Jesus. With a feeling Objectives that something more than usual might be expected, they now The children will: pressed about their Master. They believed that the kingdom was Know that true soon to be established. As the people sat upon the green Christians serve hillside, awaiting the words of the divine Teacher, their hearts others and don’t were filled with thoughts of future glory. There were scribes and judge them. Pharisees who looked forward to the day when they should Feel that everyone have dominion over the hated Romans, and possess the riches is special to Jesus. and splendor of the world’s great empire. The poor peasants Respond by caring and fishermen hoped to hear the assurance that their wretched about other people and trying to hovels, the scanty food, the life of toil, and fear of want were to understand how they feel. be exchanged for mansions of plenty and days of ease. In place of the one coarse garment which was their covering by day, and their blanket at night, they hoped that Christ would give them the rich and costly robes of their conquerors. All hearts thrilled with the proud hope that Israel was soon to be honored before The Message the nations as the chosen of the Lord, and Jerusalem exalted as Jesus helps me treat the head of a universal kingdom. others as I want “Christ disappointed the hope of worldly greatness. In the to be treated. Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education, and to give His hearers a right con- ception of His kingdom and of His own character” (The Desire of Ages, pp. 298, 299). 10 LESSON ONE www.gracelink.net/primary SERVICE Room Decorations This quarter is about Jesus. Use basic items to represent the times in which He lived. Create a flat-roofed house from a large appliance box; cover one classroom wall with paper and paint a green hillside. During the quarter you can add sheep, a lake, a cross, and a tomb to the mural. Program Overview Lesson Section Minutes Activities Materials Needed Welcome ongoing Greet students at none door; hear pleased/ troubled _________________________________________________________________________________ Readiness up to 10 A. All Eyes on Him! eye drawing, paper, markers, crayons 1 or pencils, Bibles B. Giant Hug 2 sheets of newspaper for each child, tape, scissors, arm pattern for “Giant Hug” (see illustration on p. 13), Bibles _________________________________________________________________________________ Prayer and Praise* up to 10 Fellowship none Any Time Songbooks Sing for Joy, He Is Our Song Mission Children’s Mission Offering box covered with gold paper Prayer none _________________________________________________________________________________ Bible Lesson up to 20 Experiencing the Story wooden board 2 Memory Verse chalkboard, chalk, or five pieces of yellow paper, marker, tape Bible Study Bibles _________________________________________________________________________________ Applying up to 15 The Way of the Golden strips of gold or yellow paper, 3 the Lesson Rule marker _________________________________________________________________________________ Sharing up to 15 Golden Spark gold or yellow paper; scissors; 4 the Lesson pens, pencils, or markers *Prayer and Praise may be used at any time during the program. www.gracelink.net/primary LESSON ONE 11 TEACHING THE LESSON Welcome Welcome students at the door. Ask how their week has been—what they are pleased/troubled about. Encourage them to share any experiences from last week’s lesson study. Have them begin the readiness activity of your choice. 1 Readiness Activities Select the activity most appropriate for your situation. A. All Eyes on Him! You Need: Post a large but simple drawing of an eye. Ask each child to copy it on their paper. • large, simple They should color the iris the same color as theirs. drawing of an eye Debriefing • paper Ask: What color are your eyes? Have children share their eye drawings. Have • markers, cray- you ever had a speck of sawdust or something else in your eye? How did it feel? ons, or pencils • Bibles (It hurt.) In our lesson today we will talk some more about getting something in our eye. The lesson is about how we treat others. Let’s find out how that should be from Matthew 7:12, our memory verse. Read aloud. Our message for today is: JESUS HELPS ME TREAT OTHERS AS I WANT TO BE TREATED. Say that with me. B. Giant Hug You Need: Give each child two sheets of newspaper and some tape. Show them how to tape • 2 sheets of the newspapers together to make a large sheet. Have them draw “giant arms” on the newspaper for newspaper. (If possible, make a pattern of the arms at least 30 in. [75 cm.] wide out of each child heavy poster board [see illustration on page 13] for the children to trace around.) Have • cellophane them cut out the arms, and walk around giving each other a gentle hug with the news- tape paper arms. • scissors • arm pattern for “Giant Hug” Debriefing (see illustration When they are seated again, ask: What does a hug mean to you? (Someone on p. 13) cares about me.) How can you show someone else that you care about them? • Bibles (Help them; hug them; speak kindly; be respectful; pray for them, etc.) Let’s find and read our memory verse, Matthew 7:12, together. Read aloud. Today’s lesson will tell us how Jesus wants us to treat others. And that is what our message is about: JESUS HELPS ME TREAT OTHERS AS I WANT TO BE TREATED. Say that with me. 12 LESSON ONE www.gracelink.net/primary Prayer and Praise Any Time Fellowship Report the students’ joys and sorrows (pleased and troubled) as reported to you at the door (as appropriate). Allow time for sharing experiences from last week’s lesson study and review the memory verse. Acknowledge any birthdays, special events, or achievements. Give a special warm greeting to all visitors. Suggested Songs “Seek Ye First” (Sing for Joy, No. 67) “We Are His Hands” (Sing for Joy, No. 129) “Make Me a Servant” (He Is Our Song, No. 126) “Pass It On” (He Is Our Song, No. 130)—theme song for the month* with these words: It only takes a spark to get a kind act going, And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing; For Jesus made the golden rule; once I experience it, I will be kind to everyone; I want to pass it on. Mission Ask: If you did not know that Jesus gives you a happier life, would you want some- one to come and tell you? (yes) Helping others learn about Jesus is treating them the way you would want to be treated. Use a story from Children’s Mission. You Need: • box covered with gold Offering paper (Write the “gold- Say: Knowing Jesus makes us happy. We share our en rule” on it.) offerings so that others will know Jesus and be happy too. Prayer Where all can see, make a list of blessings the children say they would like to receive. Then, in keeping with the spirit of the golden rule, draw from that list to pray for specific people the children name. *We recommend writing the words where all can see. These words will be used as a theme song for lessons 1-4. 30 in (75 cm) www.gracelink.net/primary LESSON ONE 13 2 The rulers stood in the shade of a nearby Bible Lesson tree. Sit down? Never! Their robes might get dirty. Besides, they thought, we are bet- Experiencing the Story ter than the people sitting here. You Need: Jesus began to speak. He said, “Make • wooden board When you say: They respond by: the kingdom of God first in your life.” eye pointing to their eye Ephraim thought, The kingdom of God? What does that mean? Say: Close your eyes and try to “Don’t judge other people and you imagine that you are hiking up a hill won’t be judged yourself.” with Jesus and the disciples. You Ephraim thought of the rulers stand- are looking for a place where many ing under the tree. Those men believed people can sit down. What does your they were better than the poor. Ephraim place look like? (There is grass, rocks, wondered, Will Jesus’ kingdom include poor a few trees, and a wide space for lots people? Will there be a place for me and my of people.) What kind of people are family? present? (poor people, leaders, parents, Then Jesus taught a lesson about children, rich people, all kinds of people) finding fault and judging people.